The upkeep of historical markers around the county has been a discussion topic for the county supervisors this summer, as supervisor Dan Benitz noticed several markers had become overgrown and nearly impossible to see. Benitz told the supervisors he had worked at several sites, clearing overgrowth.
After several discussions about who should or who would be responsible for upkeep, county conservation director Tanner Scheuermann and county engineer Wade Weiss both attended the Aug. 3 supervisors meeting. The two agreed that county conservation will maintain the markers in county parks and that secondary roads employees will maintain the remaining markers.
“It’s not a big deal,” Weiss said. “We’ve been doing it for years.”
Scheuermann said the state has funding available for upkeep through the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program. He said grants would need to be applied for on behalf of the Greene County Historical Society.
The 31 markers are scattered throughout the county and include the sites of early mills, an “old” cotton tree, the scene of a train wreck and derailment, and the first county courthouse.
The markers were placed as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration, James H. Andrew saw it as a challenge when someone commented at a planning meeting that ‘nothing ever happened’ in Greene County. He named 12 sites of historic interest and wrote a chronology. The project grew, with fundraising, a state grant, and volunteer labor. Andrew then noted there were more sites of interest, and the number of markers continued to grow. The project wasn’t finally completed until 1998.
A map showing the location of each marker is available in the county auditor’s office.
In other business, sheriff Jack Williams reported the final inspection of the new jail is scheduled for Aug. 24. A public open house will be held after that date. Also, the supervisors increased the daily room and board fees for inmates in the jail from $48 to $60 per day. Williams said it had not been increased since before he became sheriff (2016).
Weiss shared plans for safety improvements at the intersection of Hwy 4 and County Road P-29, eight miles north of Jefferson. The project will eliminate confusing stop signs for southbound motorists by adding a gentle curve on P-29 toward the west so P-29 joins Hwy 4 west of the current intersection/Hwy 4 curve.
Estimated cost is $750,000, with the Iowa DOT covering most of the cost. The county secondary roads crew will assist where it can. Weiss said he anticipates a bid letting next July with construction in the fall of 2027.
He added that construction on the Parkland Ave bridge will begin this week.
The supervisors approved hiring Jonathon Martinez and Weston Doyle as part-time jailers at an hourly wage of $20. Both are fulltime jailers in Guthrie County. When asked, Williams said both had toured the new Greene County jail, and that appeared to have prompted their job applications. With their hires the jail is fully staffed, Williams said.
Acting as drainage trustees the supervisors set a public hearings for Sept. 14 for annexation and reclassification of several parcels in DD 20.
